Time For Change

Colleges Must Find Ways To Lower Cost Of Education

September 16, 1993

With today's conclusion to "Virginia's College Cost Crunch," readers should have a good idea of how Virginia has come to be the second-most expensive state to get a public college education. The five-part series, published in most of Virginia's daily newspapers, has shown that the average Virginia family must struggle to put someone through a state college and the colleges are not doing all they can to limit the cost.

The colleges can make changes on their own, but many of the problems associated with higher education result from duplication, competition and a lack of coordination. Before much else can happen, the General Assembly needs to give the State Council on Higher Education more power to regulate the largely autonomous colleges.

A stronger council could then push colleges to cut back on duplicate programs, end the bait-and-switch tactic of hiring well-known professors who seldom teach, reduce student fees, de-emphasize athletics and "glitter" such as big-name speakers and lavish student centers, get by with fewer administrators and find ways to soften the slap-across-the-face that textbook costs are to students at the beginning of every new semester. Colleges need to answer the question: If applications for enrollment far outnumber acceptances, why must colleges resort to so many bells and whistles to attract students?

This series, produced by the state's four largest papers, should have an impact on the governor's race and legislative elections. The issues brought up - including the need to fund state-supported institutions of higher education - should be addressed thoroughly and thoughtfully by all candidates.